Women still do more housework than their male partners - even if they earn and work more

  • Researchers examined how the balance of chores shifts over three life stages
  • They found that women consistently did more housework than male partners 
  • Men, on the other hand, were more influenced by other responsibilities 

By CHEYENNE MACDONALD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

When it comes to doing household chores, women are more likely to take on the brunt of the task – regardless of how much they work outside of home, and how much they earn, according to a new study.

Researchers investigating the balance of household tasks examined how this shifts between partners across three stages of life.

While women were found to consistently do more housework irrespective of other factors, male involvement was influenced by the demand of other responsibilities, such as work hours and child rearing.

When it comes to doing household chores, women are more likely to take on the brunt of the task ¿ regardless of how much they work outside of home, and how much they earn, according to a new study. Stock image 

When it comes to doing household chores, women are more likely to take on the brunt of the task – regardless of how much they work outside of home, and how much they earn, according to a new study. Stock image 

WHAT THEY FOUND

For people said to be ‘moving into adulthood’ (age 25), the study revealed women and the lower-earning partner were more likely to be the ones doing the housework.

For young adults (32), both work hours and the responsibility of raising children played a role – but, only for men.

These factors, according to the researchers, were linked to reduced housework involvement among the male participants.

At the midlife stage (43), the researchers found that, again, gender was the biggest predictor, with women taking on most of the housework.

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The new findings highlight the continuing disparity in the sharing of domestic tasks.

‘Women consistently perform more housework than men do,’ said lead author Rebecca Horne, of the University of Alberta, Canada.

‘Patterns of housework responsibility between men and women tend to be quite consistent at each life stage despite minor fluctuations in the volume of housework chores.’

In the study, the researchers analyzed questionnaires filled out by participants of the Edmonton Transition Study, which tracked more than 900 Canadians from high school to work, and from adolescence into adulthood.

The team focused on participants who had life partners in 1992, 1999, and 2012, when they were 25, 32, and 43 years old.

For each participant, the researchers examined the effect of that person’s work hours, relative income, marital status, and responsibilities toward children on their contribution to housework.

For people said to be ‘moving into adulthood’ (age 25), the study revealed women and the lower-earning partner were more likely to be the ones doing the housework.

For young adults (32), both work hours and the responsibility of raising children played a role – but, only for men.

These factors, according to the researchers, were linked to reduced housework involvement among the male participants.

While women were found to consistently do more housework irrespective of other factors, male involvement was influenced by the demand of other responsibilities, such as work hours and child rearing. Stock image 

While women were found to consistently do more housework irrespective of other factors, male involvement was influenced by the demand of other responsibilities, such as work hours and child rearing. Stock image 

At the midlife stage (43), the researchers found that, again, gender was the biggest predictor, with women taking on most of the housework.

‘Overall, time, money, and gender variables seem to be important for explaining the division of household labour, albeit to varying intensities depending on stage in the life course,’ says Horne.

While several factors came into play, the researchers say gender was most prevalent, as ‘certain elements of the gender constructionist perspective were supported at all life stages.’

Despite some progress in recent years to improve the domestic balance, Horne notes that the distribution of housework still follows a persistent gendered nature.

With the new findings, however, the researcher notes partners can become more aware of the outside factors that may influence the division of chores, to promote greater equality at home.

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